Funny quote from Michael Moore's book

[Timebuilder]

Actually, if we suspended trade with China, they would have far less exposure to the nature of western democracy in general, and our own representative republic in particular. The more they get to know us, the more they will become intolerant of the dictatorship under which they have lived.

The quote from Voltaire is very telling. Look at the Vichy government of France in WWII, after welcoming the Nazis. Not a patriot to be found. This is the country who harbored fugitive Ira Einhorn, who killed a friend and neighbor of mine, Holly Maddux.

Let them eat quiche.

 

[kilomike]

Well said, Timebuilder!!

I liked your paragraph about China. I believe strongly that if the people gain exposure to democracy and free enterprise they would want to get rid of Communism. Happened already in Eastern Europe. I spent some time in Poland before the Iron Curtain fell. The Solidarity movement was building momentum, and I predicted that Communism would end (in Poland and Russia) in 15 years based on what I saw. No, it ended there two years after I left Poland! It took an electrician, Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement to topple Communism. Unfortunately, it will take longer in China because there is no strong labor based movement to kick Communism in the a@@!! The average Pole hated Communism passionately.

Just because a man is a liberal does NOT make him a Communist! A true progressive supports free enterprise but also balances it with some programs to work with the poor and enable the elderly to have care and safety regulations etc.

 

[s.o.sJTB]

how much exposure do the people of china realy get to the ideals of our democracy? our trade policy with china is based on the ideals of corprate greed (the real threat to our democracy through the collapse of our economic integrity enron, worldcom...)

The people and the disidents of cuba seem to understand the ideals of democracy without the benefit of of favored nation trade policy.

 

[Timebuilder]

How much exposure do they get to our ideas?

Well, our church regularly sends missions teams to China. The Chinese are VERY much in tune with capitalism, and can't wait to turn their backward society around. The development of China as a modern democracy will depend on an active engagement between America and the Chinese people, and will be a benefit to both.

While misdeeds of corporate leadership have surely hurt us, the recovery of our public image will be swift because of the manner in which we will respond to this crisis of trust. The problem is more of an ethical crisis than a permeation of greed. We've had greed for many centuries, and most counties smaller than ours operate on a system of bribes, with Mexico and India as good examples. Frankly, we have no choice but to fix this trust problem, since investors will stay on the sideline if we don't.

The cuban people have trade with other nations, but they live in the early part of the last century, thanks to Fidel. When he goes, Cuba will finally have a REAL revolution